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Game 48: Orpik, Johnson to miss second straight game; Caputi, Skoula out

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Defenseman Brooks Orpik and goaltender Brent Johnson did not participate in the Penguins morning skate today in Calgary. Both players will miss their second straight game.

Orpik is sidelined with a lower body injury after being evaluated by team doctors on Monday. His status for the rest of the road trip is in doubt, although Orpik has re-joined the team and remains on the trip.

Meanwhile, Brent Johnson is sidelined with a groin injury. The injury is regarded as minor.

John Curry will serve as the teams backup for the second consecutive game.

Line Changes/ Caputi Out

*Max Talbot has been elevated to the 2nd line and will see time with Ruslan Fedotenko and Evgeni Malkin tonight.

Dan Bylsma has been questioned for the limited ice time he has been given Luca Caputi and there are strong indications that Caputi will be scratched tonight.

Caputi was the extra forward in today’s skate, while Eric Godard took a regular shift on the 4th line with Craig Adams and Michael Rupp. Barring a game-time decision not to play Eric Godard, Caputi will be the odd-man out.

A source on the scene tells me Caputi has been informed that he won’t be playing.

Meanwhile, Martin Skoula was the Penguins extra defenseman this morning. Another indication that Skoula will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game.

Team sources indicate Ben Lovejoy will be in the lineup and Alex Goligoski is in no danger of sitting.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.